LYONS, Kan. — At Monday’s meeting, the Lyons City Council approved two items for the Municipal Swimming Pool. One was the purchase of a climbing wall for the pool. This is being purchased through the Arlan Company of Leawood, KS, which the city has used for other amenities at the pool. The cost of the wall including shipping is $19,690. This is a budgeted item for 2026.
The other was the purchase of pool filters. These filters usually have a ten-year life span, and were going to be replaced at the end of last year however this was put on hold due to a city spending freeze. There were some issues with the filters noted during the 2025 pool season. These filters need to be in place prior to opening of the pool this summer. The filters and related items have a cost of $8,150, but the council authorized up to $11,000 to cover any other issues found when they are replaced.
The Council approved a lease-purchase of a new copier for the Police Department through Bolen Office Supply at a monthly cost of $100 plus a per copy price which varies depending on whether the copy is black and white or color and density of color copies. This is a 24 month agreement after which the city will own the copier. The monthly payment includes parts, labor, and all supplies except for staples and paper.
Resolutions were adopted waving Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the preparation of the city’s financial records. Under Kansas statutes, cities are able to waive GAAP requirements and follow an alternate method of preparing financial records to demonstrate compliance with cash basis and budget laws of the state. The resolutions cover both the 2025 and 2026 budget years.
Nearly all local governmental units in Kansas adopt GAAP waivers, instead following requirements contained in the Kansas Municipal Accounting and Audit Guide. A regulatory audit, which the city uses, differs in a number of respects to an GAAP audit, in that it does not include such things as asset accounting and certain liabilities, such as the city’s responsibility for the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System.
A resolution was adopted establishing a separate fund within the city for accounting of Transient Guest Tax funds. The city received a set portion of a tax levied by Rice County on hotel and motel room stays along with short term rentals such as bed and breakfast facilities and short term rentals such as through AirBNB. Proceeds from this tax are to be used for tourism promotion and related expenses.
The Council authorized up to $11,000 for purchase of street signs, regulatory signs, and related hardware. Public Works Director Jared Jones said the purchase is to re-stock their inventory which has been depleted in recent years, especially as a result of the July 2023 wind event. $3,664.64 of the authorized purchase will be funded through FEMA reimbursements, with the remainder from the commodities or facility maintenance line items in the Street budget.
